AUSTIN - Les Claypool and his Fearless Flying Frog Brigade invaded the Moody Amphitheater on Wednesday for a performance that was truly engaging for the eyes and ears of all in attendance.
Loyal followers of Claypool and his musical endeavor's filled the amphitheater to see the avant garde musician with the expectation of rhythmic slap bass fusion on what started as, and ended as, a hot Texas day.
As the jam band took the stage the show opened with "Highball with The Devil" of "Les Claypool and The Holy Mackerel". The show had the same vibe that fans have come to love and expect of the band.
Aside from Claypool the band consisted of Sean Ono Lennon on guitar, Mike Dillon on percussion, Harry Waters on Keyboard, and Paulo Baldi on drums. Frog Brigade Regular Skerik was on the tour as well, however an injury has prevented him from performing in recent weeks.
The beloved saxophonist is recuperating and fans have taken to GoFundMe to help support the musician. Of the fifty thousand dollar goal, fans have raised over ninety thousand dollars to help Skerik in this unfortunate time.
The GoFundMe page can be accessed at this link: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-support-skeriks-recovery
Though there were many highlights to the nights performance, one in particular for this reporter was hearing the classic "David Makalaster" which has a vibe that just sets a tone for the night. Though the group has not toured together in twenty years, the current line up was tight, together, and didn't miss a single beat.
Claypool maintains the percussive slap bass style that he is known for and dazzles the
crowd with his amazing finger dexterity. A great moment from the show was seeing Claypool and Waters go tit for tat in a call and response section of the extended jams which can be seen in the clips below.
Lennon showcased impressive work on the guitar while performing on vocals as well. An accomplished soloist Lennon stands on his own.
Many who have seen Lennon on this tour might tell you that during his solos, the mannerisms of his late father are present which is pretty magical in it's own right. It is clear however, that the younger Lennon has carved a name for himself in the music world.
As the performance continued, the Texas heat persisted as Claypool told fans "I'm killing time because it's too F-----g hot to be playing out here." Fans laughed as the musician quipped as the many local Texans knew he was spot on with that comment.
The heat did not stop the band or the audience from enjoying the show as everyone stayed through the evening and the encores. The jam band left the audience more than satisfied as the set list compiled classics with extended solo sections.
Solos from Lennon and Waters had classic grooves that some may recognize pretty quickly while solos from Claypool and Dillon offered a funky jazzy vibe that paired perfectly. Some would label the group as a part of the fusion genre of music, however this reporter feels that the group can't be labled as the genres mix so well.
From Primus, to C2B3, Holy Mackerel, Purple Onion, Fancy Band, The Lennon Claypool Delirium and now the current Frog Brigade, Claypool has shown time and time again that the eclectic grouping of musicians makes for truly limitless collaborations.
Could we have asked for more out of this performance? no.
The setlist was as follows:
Highball
Makalaster
Amanitas
Cricket
*Animals*
Precipitation
Hendershot
Rumble
With the grouping of songs set in place Claypool teased Primus fans on occasion with excerpts of "Southbound Pachyderm" and "Mr. Krinkle" which were welcomed by all. The show overall had people moving, grooving, laughing and taping.
Recently the group announced some additional tour dates that will be running through the month of October in several states including California, Ohio, Colorado, New Mexico, and Tennessee to name a few. This extension of the tour has been dubbed "The Hunt for Green October."
Should the group of Fearless Flying Frogs be in your area we highly recommend getting a ticket. This group will deliver a performance that will captivate your ears and eyes with we feel is almost unmatched musicianship.
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